Glossary of Legal Terms

An easement is a limited legal right to use another person’s land for a specific purpose. A common example is a driveway or utility access route that crosses a neighbouring property.

An electronic will is a will made and stored in electronic form under the legal rules that allow it. Special legal requirements still apply to validity.

An encumbrance is a registered claim, liability, or restriction that affects land. Mortgages, easements, covenants, and liens are common examples.

An enduring power of attorney is a legal document that lets an adult choose someone to handle financial and legal matters if the adult later cannot manage them alone. It helps keep bills, banking, and property matters moving without a court process in many cases.

An estate is the total of a deceased person’s assets, legal rights, and interests. It can include land, bank accounts, investments, possessions, and other property.

An estate grant is the general court authority document issued in probate matters, such as a grant of probate or a grant of administration. It confirms who has legal authority to deal with the estate.

Excluded property is property that may be excluded from the normal requirement to divide property between spouses. This can include certain gifts, inheritances, or property owned before the relationship. Whether property is excluded depends on the facts, and any increase in value may still need to be considered.

An executor is the person named in a will to carry out the will and handle the estate. The executor gathers assets, pays debts and taxes, and gives what is left to the right people. In some cases, the executor needs probate before banks or land title offices will deal with them.

An extraprovincial company is a foreign entity that must register under B.C. law if it begins carrying on business in British Columbia. The Act generally requires registration within two months after business begins in B.C.